FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Key Takeaways from the Group Stage Drama

The New Format: Bigger, Bolder, Better?

The expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has brought more continental champions together than ever before. As a data analyst who’s spent sleepless nights tracking xG maps and pressing triggers, I must admit - the competition format is growing on me like mold on a Sunday league kit.

Standout Performances

Manchester City’s 6-0 demolition of Al Ain wasn’t just a victory - it was a statistical masterpiece. Pep’s boys maintained 78% possession while creating 4.2 xG, proving that gegenpressing works even in 35°C Saudi heat (though their defenders still looked like they’d run a marathon in fur coats).

Meanwhile, little-known Botafogo shocked PSG 1-0 - the ultimate ‘against all odds’ story that makes football beautiful. Their xG? A modest 0.7. The Parisians’? A staggering 2.9. Sometimes the numbers lie… or maybe Donnarumma should consider goalkeeping lessons.

Tactical Trends Emerging

1. High Press Pays Off: Teams averaging >25 final third pressures per match won 68% of their games
2. Wing Play Dominance: 61% of goals came from wide areas
3. Substitution Impact: Goals scored by substitutes up 42% compared to last edition

As my old professor at Loughborough used to say: ‘Statistics are like bikinis - they show you a lot, but not everything.’ That said, these patterns are hard to ignore.

What’s Next?

The knockout stages promise fireworks, particularly with Inter Milan showing resilience and Flamengo’s attacking flair. My dark horse? Monterrey. Their midfield trio have completed more progressive passes than any team except City. Just don’t tell my betting agency clients I said that.